Fla. woman ends life after telling of sexual disorder

Dec. 5, 2012
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Gretchen Molannen, 39, of Spring Hill, Fla., told the Tampa Bay Times about her 16-year struggle with persistent genital arousal, a rare and debilitating disorder. The article appeared online Friday and in the paper's Sunday magazine. She was found dead late Saturday after police received a suicide call. / Tampa Bay Times

by Michael Winter, USA TODAY

by Michael Winter, USA TODAY

A Florida woman committed suicide days after the Tampa Bay Times told her story of living 16 years with a rare, debilitating sexual disorder.

Gretchen Molannen, 39, of Spring Hill, suffered from persistent genital arousal disorder, which leaves women physically, but not psychologically, excited. The Tampa paper published her story online Friday and in print Sunday.

Hernando County sheriff's deputies found her dead around midnight Saturday after responding to a suicide call, the Times reported Wednesday. She was last seen alive Thursday at 11:30 p.m. Her boyfriend alerted the paper Monday. The sheriff's office did not release details of her death.

Molannen's condition prevented her from keeping a steady job or living a normal life. She had no income, had been twice denied Social Security disability benefits and had attempted suicide at least three times during the past year.

"I know that God wants more out of my life than having me testing out suicide methods, constantly crying and abusing myself," she told the paper.

The Times, which found her on Craigslist seeking someone to pay for an MRI to support her disability claim, said it read her the story last week before it was published and deleted "several small details" at her request.

Before publication, the Times thanked her by phone and e-mail, and she replied by e-mail Nov. 28:

"Thank YOU for taking an interest in doing a story for me! I am flattered that you cared so much to want to help. I just hope this will educate people that this is serious and really exists, and that other women who are suffering in silence will now have the courage to talk to a doctor about it. If men have suffered with the shame of impotence or even priapism, now it's time for women to get help as well. Thank you for your patience with me and for devoting so much time to this. I'm sure your editor is very proud of your work and I'm excited to see my own story online."

After her story appeared, the Times said it received offers of help from legal and medical professionals.